Safety gear

ABSTRACT

Protective devices and methods suitable for users of pneumatic tools are contemplated for providing covering sufficient to stop or impede a nail&#39;s momentum for protection of more commonly injured areas of the body. Protective devices and methods are provided to protect areas of the body such as: a hand, including thumb and index finger of the hand not holding the nailer; a wrist; a knee; a foot; and/or an ankle. Protective covering can be made of any material that is sufficient to stop or impede the nail&#39;s momentum. The material may be flexible or stiff. The material may not significantly impede normal joint articulation or significantly interfere with normal work functions. Material can be stiff and the protective device be composed of smaller elements joined so as to allow normal articulation.

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/845,778 filed on Sep. 20,2006, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is in the field of safety devices for power toolusers. In particular, the present invention provides safety gear to beworn by user of pneumatic devices, such as nailers, for protectionagainst nail misfiring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional power tools, including pneumatic nail guns are designed todrive nails at very high velocity for fastening, for example, lumberpieces.

Various safety devices are available on the market for reducing risk ofinjury of power tool operators. However, none of these devices aregeared specifically toward uses associated with pneumatic nail guns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus to address atleast the drawbacks noted above by providing protective devices suitablefor users of pneumatic tools which provides covering sufficient to stopor impede the nail's momentum for prevention of the most commonlyinjured areas of the body.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aprotective device is provided to protect the hand. In an exemplaryimplementation the protected areas include thumb and index finger of thehand not holding the nailer.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aprotective device is provided to protect at least one wrist of the userof a nailer.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aprotective device is provided to protect at least one knee of the userof a nailer.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aprotective device is provided to protect at least one foot of the userof a nailer.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, aprotective device is provided to protect at least one ankle of the userof a nailer.

In an exemplary implementation, a protective covering is made of anymaterial that is sufficient to stop or impede the nail's momentum. Thematerial may be flexible or stiff. The material may not significantlyimpede normal joint articulation or significantly interfere with normalwork functions.

In an exemplary implementation, material is stiff and the protectivedevice is composed of smaller elements joined so as to allow normalarticulation.

In an exemplary implementation, any of the above noted devices canincorporate elements providing additional function, other than theprotective function, thereby extending the utility of the devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIGS. 1A and 1B: illustrate a hand guard in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B: illustrate wrist guards in accordance with exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B: illustrate ankle guards in accordance with exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3C: illustrates a detail of an exemplary implementation of anaccessory which provides additional functionality for an ankle guard ofFIG. 3B.

FIG. 4: illustrate knee guards in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed constructionand elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding ofthe embodiments of the invention and are merely exemplary. Accordingly,those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changesand modifications of the embodiments described herein can be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also,descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted forclarity and conciseness.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a hand guard 10 in accordance withexemplary embodiments of the present invention provides protection forthumb and index finger of the hand not holding the nailer. Hand guard 10comprises an articulated metal or composite protection which includesupper portion 20, lower portions 30 and 35 for covering the thumb andlower portions 40 and 45 covering the index finger. The surfaces of thelower portion 20 upper and lower portions 30, 35, 40 and 45 can berounded to facilitate deflection of nails. Pivot joints 50 may beprovided for attaching surfaces 20, 30, 35, 40 and 45 to each other asshown, and to facilitate articulation. Surfaces 20, 30, 35, 40 and 45may be integrated in a glove 60, or held in place on the hand by othermeans such as an elastic strap 70.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, wrist guards 200 in accordance withexemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a protectivesurface 210 which can be held in place on the wrist by means of a strap220 or by means of a sleeve 240. In an exemplary implementation, wristguard 200 has a wrist covering which may incorporate a brace toalleviate or prevent carpotunnel syndrome.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate ankle guards in accordance withexemplary embodiments of the present invention. In an exemplaryimplementation, ankle guard 300 includes protective covering 310 whichis held in place on the ankle by means of a strap (which can be a rigidstrap attached to covering 310 by means of a pivot 317) and laces 330.Ankle guard 300 may also include a step which provides extra utility fortasks such as supporting a piece of lumber being nailed.

Ankle guard 350 includes a covering 350 which is held in place on theankle by means of a sleeve 360 and laces 380. In an exemplaryimplementation, ankle guard 350 (and/or 300) can also be implemented toprovide an extra feature of ankle support. Retractable step 370 can beintegrated fixedly or detachably in ankle guard 350 by means offasteners 390. As shown in FIG. 3C, step 370 may include articulated arm372 attached by means of a pivot to bracket 374. Bracket 374 includesholes 378 for accommodating fasteners 390.

Referring to FIG. 4, knee guards 400 in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention includes cover 410 which may be heldin place on the knee by means of a sleeve 420. As will be appreciated byskilled artisans, knee guard 400 may also incorporate structure thatprovides knee support. In an exemplary implementation, cover 400 mayhave architecture to hold several fastener collations 412.

As will be appreciated by skilled artisans, according to exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, the protective covering may bemade of any material that is sufficient to stop or impede the nail'smomentum. The material may be flexible or stiff, but must not impedenormal joint articulation or interfere with normal functions. In theevent the material is stiff, the unit may be composed of smallerelements joined in some fashion so as to allow normal articulation.

Other embodiments of the present invention include a foot covering whichcould incorporate a small flat table so contractors can rest boards on astable surface prior to cutting (it is a common practice in the West tobrace boards on a boot prior to cutting).

Although several embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiments.

1. A safety device comprising: at least one covering sufficient to stopor impede momentum of a nail from a pneumatic nailer; means for securelyplacing said at least one covering on a body part; and means forconfiguring said at least one covering to facilitate articulatedmovement of said body part.
 2. The safety device of claim 1, whereinsaid body part is a human hand; said at least one covering comprises aplurality of integral parts configured to cover at least a portion of asurface of a thumb and index finger of said hand; said means forsecurely placing comprises at least one strap; and said integral partare attached to each other by means of at least one pivot.
 3. The safetydevice of claim 1, wherein said body part is a human wrist; and saidmeans for securely placing comprises at least one strap.
 4. The safetydevice of claim 1, wherein said body part is a human ankle; said atleast one covering comprises a plurality of through holes; said meansfor securely placing comprises a lace threaded through said throughholes.
 5. The safety device of claim 1, wherein said body part is ahuman knee; said at least one covering comprises a plurality of integralparts configured to cover at least a portion of said knee; said meansfor securely placing comprises a sleeve; and said integral parts arefixedly attached to each and to said sleeve.